Color selector



Feb. 4, 1964 THE. 3

J. GAUDlER-PONS 3,120,065

COLOR SELECTOR Original Filed Aug. 29, 1960 FuaxE INVENTOR. Jose/w Gnumse- Po/vs United States Patent 3,l2il,li65 CQLUR SELECTGR Joseph Gauthier-Ports, New Milford, NJ assignor to The herwin-Williarns Qompany, tlleveiand, @hio, a corporation of Ohio Original application Aug. 29, 1966, Ser. No. 52,495, now Patent No. 3,070,905, dated Jan. l, 1963. Divided and this application June 11, 1962. Ser. No. 207,842

8 Claims. (Cl. 3528.3)

This invention relates to sample exhibitors and concerns particularly means for interchangeably exposing color samples on pivotally connected sheets or strips arranged for selective exposure to view.

This application is a division of co-pending application Serial No. 52,495, filed August 29, 1960, now Patent No. 3,070,905.

An object of the invention is to provide color selectors or co-ordinators arranged for simultaneously presenting harmonizing colors to the eye as well as presenting such colors together with an accent color.

A further object of the invention is to present color harmonies interchangeably for enabling an interior decorator, home decorator, home owner or buyer of draperies and furniture to produce a variety of color harmonies at will to aid in selecting the color of finish to be used on walls, ceilings and contrast in a room or group of adjoining rooms for determination of harmonious color combinations, together with selection of harmonizing or accent ing colors for draperies, furniture, upholstery, carpeting and the like.

A further object is to prevent loss of color cards while retaining complete accessibility thereof.

Another object is to permit only those color cards to be exposed to view simultaneously which constitute appropriate harmonizing or contrasting combinations.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In carrying out the invention in accordance with a preferred form thereof, a plurality of color cards are provided each marked with an identifying name or other indicia for enabling the buyer to reproduce the color by purchase of the paint, enamel or other coloring material or by comparison with fabrics, coverings md other materials to be used in the decoration. The color cards are divided into four groups of colors or color families and hinged in a container with a window, such as to expose only portions of the sunface of the cards. The portions of the cards adapted to be exposed through the window are cut in such shapes that four different colors or color families are visible simultaneously. The arrangement is such that cards selected from each of the four groups but no others are visible through the window at any one time. The hinged construction permits selection of cards from among each of the four groups so as to expose different combinations of colors as selected, each combination constituting a color quadrangle or a color triad harmonizing with an accent color. The color cards are so mounted in the groups that only harmonizing color quadrangles are possible. In this way the decorator or purchaser of color finishes and furnishings is assured of a harmonious color scheme in advance before the furnishings have been installed and the finishes applied to the Walls and room surfaces, and aid is provided in selecting colors pleasing the decorators taste.

A better understanding of the invention will be afforded by the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

'FIG. 1 is a plan view of a color selector in which the color cards are mounted to be hinged mound an axis lying along one side of the color cards;

3,129,055 Patented Feb. 4, 1954 FIG. 2. is a fragmentary side view of the color selector FIGS. 1 and 3 represented as seen looking in the direction of the arrows 8 8 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1, but with a portion of the color cards bro-ken away to expose a fragmentary sectional view.

Like reference characters are utilized throughout the drawing to designate like parts.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 cards may be arranged to pivot around an axis parallel to the edges or sides of the cards by providing a ring type binding in which the color cards are assembled in book form. There is a conventional, flexible sheet metal or plastic binder unit 41 integral with a plurality of rings 42 interlocked with openings 43 in covers 44 and '45 and color cards 46 of difierent colors. The covers 44 and 45 are preferably opaque except for a transparent window 47. For example, the back cover 45 may be formed of fiberboard, the front cover 44 of transparent plastic with the window portion 47 exposed and the remaining coated or covered by opaque material, except if desired for an aperture 48.

The cards 4'6 are divided into a plurality of groups only six of which 51, 52, 53, 54, 55 and 56 are shown for the sake of simplicity in the drawing, although additional groups may be provided if desired. Each group consists of subgroups.

For simplicity and clarity in illustrating arrangement of the subgroups, all of the cards except one group have been cut away and a portion of the cover 44 has been cut away in view of FlG. 3. The group 51 has subgroups arranged one above another. The lowermost subgroup comprises a plurality of color cards 57, 58 and 59 and, if desired, additional color cards all of the same color family, but different tints or shades thereof. Cards 57, 5'8 and 59 are all cut off square as shown, with ends perpendicular to the side hinged by the ring unit 4 1 but are progressively different lengths, so that parallel horizontal strips of the successive cards 57, 58 and 5 9 are all exposed to view simultaneously.

Above the subgroup consisting of the cards 57, '58 and 59 is another subgroup consisting of cards 61, 62, 63, 64- and, if desired, additional cards constituting different shades or tints of a color family diiferent from that of cards 57, 58 and 59. The cards 61, 62, 63 and 6 have their upper ends cut off at an angle, preferably an acute angle less than 45 to the top edge 65 of the card 57 so as to expose the cards 57, 58 and 59 to view in part. In addition, the cards 61, 62, 63 and 64 are also of progressively different lengths with parallel top edges 66-, 67, 63 and 6% cut parallel to the top edge 65 of the card 57. In this manner horizontal strips of all of the cards 61, 62, 6 3 and ea of that color family are exposed simultaneously.

Above the color family cards 61, 62,, 63 and 64 is another subgroup comprising cards 71, 72, 73 and 74 of a third color family with the different cards thereof having different tints or shades of the same color family and these cards also have oblique and horizontal edges similar to the cards 61, 62, 63 and 64, except that the oblique edges of one subgroup of cards follow the oblique line 75 and the edges of the other group follow the oblique line 76. The cards 71, 72, 73 and 74 have oblique edge portions following the oblique lines 76. Above the cards of the subgroups already mentioned but in the same main group is an accent color card 77 shorter than the other color cards having a gable or wedge shaped upper end formed by edges 78 and 79 following lines which are continuations of edge line 76 and 75 respectively.

From FIG. 3, it will best be seen that the accent color of the card 77 may be viewed in conjunction with a triad of color families simultaneously with different tints or shades of each color family being visible to aid in the selection.

Each of the other groups of color cards, such as the groups 51, 52, 53, 54, 55 and 56, has a different color accent color card corresponding with the color card 77 together with color family cards corresponding to those already described but of different color families. Thus, by leafing through the color card selector book any desired hm'monious triad of color families may be found together with an appropriate accent color. The colors in each group of color cards are limited to those forming a color harmony and making an artistic contrast with the accent color. In this manner the user of the color selector is provided with a color guide which allows simultaneous precise selection of harmonies and decorator combinations, plus a recommended accent color.

If desired, an additional color card 31 may be provided under the cover 44 to provide a contrasting color under the aperture 48 of the cover 44.

The color cards may also be employed to form swatches which may be cut or torn out for use in comparison with fabrics and upholstery coverings or as notations of identifications of color finishes to be purchased. To this end the portions of the color cards under the opaque cover 44 are provided with perforation lines 82 to form swatch rectangles 83, each of which is provided with indicia preferably on the back or under surface identifying the color names or numbers and, if desired, the compositions of prime colors by which the color in question is produced together with the name of the manufacturer and/or the trademark, trade name or brand name of the colors furnished by the manufacturer or supplier.

Certain embodiments of the invention and certain methods of operation embraced therein have been shown and particularly described for the purpose of explaining the principle of operation of the invention and showing its application, but it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many modifications and variations are possible, and it is intended therefore to cover all such modifications and variations as fall within the scope of the invention.

Certain embodiments of the invention and certain methods of operation embraced therein have been shown and particularly described for the purpose of explaining the principle of operation of the invention and showing its application, but it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many modifications and variations are possible, and it is intended therefore to cover all such modifications and variations as fall within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed:

1. A color selector comprising in combination a plurality of color cards of different colors hinged at the side to form a book in which the color cards form the leaves of the book, the color cards being divided into groups, each group comprising a plurality of lowermost color cards out off substantially perpendicular to the sides and of progressively greater lengths, the progressively longer color cards having different shades of a color family, a subgroup of color cards Within each group being cut off at an angle to expose the lowermost color cards, the color cards in the subgroup being of progressively different length and of different shades of the same color family to present a plurality of different colors to view at the same time for facilitating a selection of harmonious color combinations.

2. A color selector as in claim 1, in which there is an additional subgroup of color cards in each group cut off at a different angle from the first subgroup and consisting of color cards of progressively different lengths having different shades of a color family different from the color family of the lowermost cards or the first group of angularly cut subgroup cards, whereby different triads of colors are simultaneously presented to facilitate selection of harmonious combinations of colors.

3. A color selector as in claim 2, wherein each group of color cards has uppermost an accent color card, the different accent color cards having different colors and each being cut off to a greater extent than the other color cards so as to expose color triads in conjunction with the accent color card.

4. A color selector as in claim 3, wherein the color cards are provided with an opaque cover hinged at the side to form a covered book and the cover has a window at one end for exposing the end portion of the color cards.

5. A color selector as in claim 4, wherein the opaque portion of the color has an opening therein and an additional contrasting color card is hinged under the cover whereby the contrasting color is exposed in the opening in conjunction with the color combination exposed under the window of the cover.

6. A color selector as in claim 4, wherein the portions of the color cards under the opaque portion of the cover are formed with perforation lines to permit the removal of color swatches from each of the color cards found to produce a harmonious color combination.

7. A color selector as in claim 6, wherein the portions of the color cards bounded by the perforation lines to form color swatches are provided with identifying indicia for enabling the selected colors to be identified.

8. A color selector as in claim 7, wherein the color cards of each group of color cards are limited to cards of colors forming harmonious combinations.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 376,634 Church Jan. 17, 1888 1,741,080 Stenz Dec. 24, 1929 2,203,167 Lodwick June 4, 1940 2,665,503 Miller Jan. 12, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 370,503 Germany Mar. 3, 1923 

1. A COLOR SELECTOR COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A PLURALITY OF COLOR CARDS OF DIFFERENT COLORS HINGED AT THE SIDE TO FORM A BOOK IN WHICH THE COLOR CARDS FORM THE LEAVES OF THE BOOK, THE COLOR CARDS BEING DIVIDED INTO GROUPS, EACH GROUP COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF LOWERMOST COLOR CARDS CUT OFF SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE SIDES AND OF PROGRESSIVELY GREATER LENGTHS, THE PROGRESSIVELY LONGER COLOR CARDS HAVING DIFFERENT SHADES OF A COLOR 